Bob the Blade

If you like sharp storytelling, opinionated humor, and real talk about aging, Arizona, philosophy, homelessness, and marketing tricks, tap play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves a good rant, and leave a review with the one label you always double-check Support the show I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself and the ka...

I have to lay off hikers, I think. Every single day here in AZ, there's another morbid story about something that happens to a hiker. Today is one I have not heard before. The story of Japanese love for baseball just might astound you. I lived there for three years. And a top ten rock story out of the hundreds I could tell. Support the show I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in...

The 70s weren’t only peace and free love. Vietnam sits at the center of a divide that people still carry, especially families with service backgrounds. I share what I can about my dad’s Air Force years, panic attacks, and the quiet that often surrounds military experiences. A standout moment comes from Queensryche’s Geoff Tate and his explanation of “Sliver,” a sharp summary of how the service can...

YOU try raising three young children at 66 without a nanny. This is about late-blooming anxiety, a tiny pill that softens sharp edges, and the daily negotiation between laughter, fear, and love when small hands find sharp drawers and open furnace rooms. Support the show I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself and the kaleidoscope i...

We trade game-day habits for music that still stings, moving from 70s “soft rock” to the art of tribute songs and a blunt take on Neil Young’s platform politics. Along the way, we face quitting smoking, stubborn weight, and an awkward line that teaches better restraint. • why live sports lost their appeal and value • what makes 70s pop writing durable and precise • Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s l...

A single song can settle a decade-long debate, and Ann Wilson’s Stairway to Heaven at the 2012 Kennedy Center did exactly that. We revisit the performance that made Robert Plant cry and explain why it wasn’t just a tribute—it was a coronation. From Nancy Wilson’s arrangement to Jason Bonham’s heartbeat on the kit, we trace how a classic can be reborn in front of its creators and what that says abo...

Janice Joplin just wasn't around enough. The Queen, she's, you know, she's got gray hair, she's probably 75 years old, I saw her on some interview and she's hilarious. She came out of the 60s, 70s, 80s, all of that completely unscarred, unscathed. Who is the queen of rock and roll? Support the show I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of ho...

A single word—no—can feel like freedom. When a waiter asks if Pepsi is okay and you finally say it isn’t, the moment lands with more weight than a drink order should. That tiny rebellion opens a door to bigger truths about preference, boundaries, and why we’re so quick to trade what we want for what’s convenient. If you’ve ever argued over Coke vs Pepsi, muted a commercial mid-chorus, or curated y...

I'm trying to get the ball across the plate, and the third baseman comes, he walks by me, he says, "where's your ass, man? You got no ass. You've lost your ass." And I said, "haven't you? I'm trying to get the ball over the plate, and you're telling me I have no ass." When the older we get, the more we lose our ass. You know, it's different wi...

The money I made over the years, I made $8,000 a year working full-time at WHSL in Wilmington in 1980 to 1983.  $8,000 a year.  I couldn't eat. Eviction notices on my door constantly. But I had the time of my life, man. I am telling you. The time of my life. I got a job at WRDU after that. 1984, I think.$17,000 a year. Support the show I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my u...

I'm gonna tell you, I did it right. I did. I sit here today, many, many years later, after being in radio, I was there 32 years, 32 years, something like that. I really believe I played every single song that I love so much in my life, somehow or another.  Support the show I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself and the kaleid...

Incomparable because each and every time I look at this one, she's perfect. The word is mesmerizing, which I will use until they come up with another one, besides "stunning". The most mesmerizing girl on TV and after 50 years she replaced (IT WAS CLOSE!) the former Mos Beautiful, a position she held until I turned into my sixties. I had a radio career, keep whatever you are drinking...

The whole Phoenix Metro is taken over for a while, and they don't last long, these haboobs, and that's the good thing about them. They'll go maybe an hour, and you know, right after the dust, it's just like a miracle from above. It rains and cleans us up for a while. And it's a beautiful thing if you think about it. What I hate about it, is it puts three and a half inches...

The generational disconnect between young service workers and older customers creates uncomfortable yet enlightening social dynamics. Working behind a counter as a young person, particularly for women, often means dealing with older men who don't understand boundaries. The coffee shop encounter described reveals this painful reality - older men cornering young workers who must remain professi...

Whether you're navigating the complexities of modern dating, contemplating cohabitation, or simply seeking perspective on life's unexpected detours, this episode delivers wisdom wrapped in Blade's signature blend of humor and authenticity. Subscribe to the Blade Video Podcast available everywhere, and visit bobtheblade.com for more content that will make you laugh while making you t...

Between musical memories, Bob shares his recent journey with anxiety and the process of finding his way back to normal after struggling with unhelpful medications. His humorous take on medical appointment cards that accidentally read "F/U" (follow-up) offers a perfect example of finding laughter in everyday absurdities—especially when sharing the joke with receptionists who could use a s...

Blade shares a raw, unfiltered account of his six-month battle with severe anxiety, including a four-day stay in a psychiatric facility and his struggle with medication side effects. We explore the contradiction of having to quit almost everything in life while refusing to give up daily Mountain Dew. • Our relationship with moderation and why some people struggle with the "just one" ment...

Perhaps most entertaining is Bob's vehement rejection of hiking culture. When friends invite him to hit the trails in 105-degree Arizona heat, his response is an emphatic "hell no." Dismissing stated benefits like cardio and fresh air, Bob humorously suggests people only hike to find Sasquatch before cataloging the genuine dangers that await on mountain paths. His practical alternat...

Bob the Blade-Living in the desert brings unexpected challenges and beauty, from stunning golden torch cactus blooms to the territorial behavior of morning doves that use my porch as their command center. • Morning doves create major problems for solar panel owners by nesting underneath and covering them with conductive droppings • Personal "security system" consists of three birds in my...

The scorching Sonoran Desert serves as the perfect backdrop for Bob the Blade's unfiltered observations on everyday life. Broadcasting from his tin shack in 102-degree heat, Bob delivers sharp commentary that cuts through pretense and finds humor in the mundane. Bob takes us on a journey through his desert town, where anachronisms like one-hour photo services still exist despite photos now ta...

Ever wondered why old Mountain Dew ads have a hint of moonshine mystique? Or how a hip replacement can turn shoe lifts into a comedic fashion statement? Join us for a light-hearted escapade into the quirks of aging, from the contemplation of bathroom safety installations to the peculiarities of small-town dynamics, where junkyard rivalries and bargain car sales reign supreme. We even toss around t...

Ever find yourself in the midst of a fast-food fiesta, only to be interrupted by a random political tirade? That's exactly what happened during my nostalgic encounter with the Mexican pizza at Taco Bell. This episode kicks off with that unexpected adventure, before seguing into the intriguing world of "snowbirds"—those seasonal visitors whose habits and car choices are as predictabl...

The dreadful reality of the awkward world of prostate exams and beard growth struggles. If you've ever found yourself pondering the itchiness of a fledgling beard or the sheer awkwardness of a clinical full frontal during a prostate exam, you're in for the update. We bring a comedic twist to these universally cringe-worthy experiences, contemplating the need for a digital alternative and...

Ever wondered what it's like to be fired from your dream job and still find the silver lining? Join me as I take you on a rollercoaster ride through my rock radio career, where my love for REM kept me going during the exhilarating days at WQDR in Raleigh, North Carolina. From the joy of discovering new music with colleagues like Katie Schroeder and Tripp to the surreal and somewhat amusing mo...

Ever wondered how music can rise from tragedy? Join us as we revisit the iconic formation of the Archangels after the untimely death of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Reflect back to their legendary 1992 performance at the Four Winds in Wilmington, and feel the pulse of Austin, Texas' vibrant music scene. We'll also dive into the complexities of modern security measures — are passwords and authenti...